Saturday, October 08, 2011

::Bruchko::

"A tall prophet with yellow hair will come to us carrying banana stalks. Knowledge of life and God will come out of those stalks, and God will show us the way back to him."
::Ancient Motilone Legend::


Yesterday I read a book titled "Bruchko" by Bruce Olson  (originally titled "For This Cross I'll Kill You"). I've been sick for the last couple of days, and so I had time to read it straight through. I am glad, since it turned out to be a page-turner. I first heard about this book when I was at Harding. Many of my friends, including my sister, had to read it in various missions classes, but it was never assigned in mine. It's about a 19-year-old missionary who went to the South American jungle to share the Good News with uncivilized tribes.

I want to share more about this book to show that it is definitely worth reading. But if you are worried about "spoilers", feel free to stop reading here.

The stories in this book are incredible and inspiring. Bruce followed what He believed was an immediate calling at 19 years old to be a missionary to South America. He felt called to the unreached tribes in the jungle of Colombia and Venezuela, but literally took a "leap of faith." He left with a one way plane ticket and $70 of cash. A missionary had agreed to meet him at the airport, but never showed. Ultimately, when he met other missionaries, they shunned him and ultimately disfellowshipped him, because he did not have a missionary board backing him. To read about his experiences makes me incredibly grateful to have my supporters, AIM, my coordinator and a mission team to work with here in Ukraine.

Despite all of this opposition, Bruce wouldn't go home. He somehow managed to find his way into the jungle. His goal was to reach the Motilone tribe. They were known for killing white oil company employees with bows and arrows. No one had ever been able to communicate with them. His first contact was an arrow in his leg. He was rescued from the jungle to heal, and then returned to the same people.

The natives couldn't say "Bruce", and so they called him "Bruchko." One of the most amazing things about this story is how he chose to share the Gospel. He didn't try to "Westernize" the people. He lived with them to first learn about their world view. He wasn't looking to destroy their way of life, but rather show them how Jesus could better their way of life. Because of this, it took him 4 years of first learning the language and gaining their trust and friendship before he even told them about Jesus.

Some could argue that this was not the most "efficient" way of teaching them about Jesus. But I would argue that Bruchko was showing them Jesus by the way he lived. He first shared the truth about Jesus with his closest friend in the tribe. And then he waited for this friend to share the truth about Jesus with the rest of his tribe, in a way that they would understand.

The Motilone word for faith means "to tie their hammock strings to," because the Motilone people slept in hammocks. They understood the idea of hanging their hammock string and trusting it to suspend them and hold them up. Isn't that a beautiful description of faith?

Far too often I have trouble differentiating between Christianity and western theology. I expect Christianity to always look like it does in America: pews, song-leaders, church buildings, Sunday services and Wednesday night services, invitation songs. I would never argue that any of those things are wrong. But is that all Christianity is?

I am so blessed to have worshipped with brothers and sisters here in Ukraine, in Mexico, Nicaragua and Ghana, as well as all over the United States. All over the world, to be a Christian means the same thing: to be a follower of Christ.

You don't need a church building. You don't need to speak English. You don't need trees to meet under. You don't need to be a part of "Western culture." You don't need to "clock-in" at three assemblies every week. You don't need to wear shoes. You don't need to wear a suit and tie or a dress. You don't need an Ichthys decal on your car.

You need Christ.

And HE will change your life.

-ej

Saturday, October 01, 2011

::I AM WHO I AM::

"God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.' This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' God also said to Moses, 'Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.''"
::Exodus 3:14-15::


I have been blessed to help lead a girls' Bible study with Olivia on Saturdays, and we just started a new study on the Names of God. I got to make the cover page for our notebooks with many of the names the Bible uses to refer to God. It was a fun project to work on as well as a good reminder of Who God is, so I thought I'd share how it turned out.


Servant of the King of Glory,
-ej

Monday, September 26, 2011

::The Black Sea::

"For whatever we lose (like a you or a me),
It's always our self we find in the sea."
::e.e. cummings::


A few weeks ago, our team went on a retreat to Crimea and stayed in a camp near Yalta, overlooking the Black Sea. It was beautiful!

Here is a video I took of us in the taxi from Simferopol to Yalta, trying to find where we were staying. Our taxi driver did not know where it was, nor did the lady he stopped to ask. The funny thing is that we were actually just barely down the hill from it when I stopped filming, we just didn't know it.



And a few pictures!

a Superhero :)

our Superhero poses

the Black Sea

Caleb on a boat ride

in Yalta

a castle known as the Swallow's Nest

-ej

Monday, August 22, 2011

::Trust Me, You Don't Want the American Cookies::

"If you give a mouse a cookie, 
he's going to ask for a glass of milk."
::from the children's book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie::

Every Monday night, we host an English movie night with subtitles for whoever wants to come. We usually have a good crowd of Nigerians, Ukrainians and Americans. On the way home from the guys' apartments tonight, some cookies called to me from a bakery window. They were larger than most "store-bought" cookies sold here in Ukraine, and looked truly like sugar cookies! Now, I have been here long enough to know that everything (especially FOOD) is not as it appears, but I was willing to give these cookies a try.

So Jordan and I stop, and I look to figure out what they are called in Russian: "AMERIKANO." Seriously, I spotted the only "American" cookies! I ask the lady for three of these "Amerikano" cookies, and she tells me (in Russian), 
"They are NOT SWEET. They are BAD!" 

I am left with nothing to say! It's not everyday you get talked OUT of buying something by the salesperson. I stand back to regroup with Jordan. We decide to watch what other people are buying and decide to buy the same. However, these are little cookies, and the price is by kilogram. Well, I have no idea how many cookies are in 1 kilogram, AND I only had 8 griven (~1 dollar), not enough for a whole kilogram.

We try to guess how many cookies we can buy with 8 griven, but really, we are CLUELESS. And it's always easier when things are simple. We've been standing here for a while now, but an idea finally came to me. I muster up all of my Russian knowledge, go up to the counter with a smile on my face, and say this:
"I have 8 griven. I want lemon cookies."
"Is that all?"
"Yes! Thank you very much."

Although the cookies tasted nothing like American OR lemon cookies, I say that it was a very successful Ukrainian adventure! Because trust me, you don't WANT the American cookies! :)

-ej

Saturday, August 20, 2011

::A Day in the Life::

"This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness." ::Lamentations 3:21-24::

***This post is meant to be long and give you an example of a day in my life in Ukraine.

Every day is truly an adventure in Ukraine, and I love it. Yesterday (Friday) was a very busy day for me, but a really good day. It seems I can make all the plans in the world, but they never go as planned. Some days I look back and think of what could've been done to make it more efficient or what I can do differently in the future, but really, it's just life in Ukraine. If it's not this, it's something else...that's the adventure!

I started the day off with a meeting with our coordinator, Dougle, at a coffee shop in the center of the city. We have been going through the book of James as a devotional, and then we just talk about whatever is going on. It's a good time for our team. Our Russian class starts at 10am at a university not too far from the coffee shop. Today was a perfect example of a typical Russian class for us. We spent the majority of time going over three questions which all translate to "Where?" in English, or more specifically "To where?", "From where?" and the basic "Where?" Each question has to be answered a different way. Yep, that's Russian for you.

After class, I met up with one of the missionaries, Katie, for coffee. We talked for a little over an hour, and then I headed off to get some lunch. I had in mind this Georgian place that sells what can best be described as grilled cheese croissants. They are SO yummy. However, after paying our teacher for the week of classes, I had only 5 griven in my wallet; the equivalent of a little over 50 cents. So I went looking for an ATM.

Some ATMs will only give out 200 griven bills when you pull out large amounts, but I knew of one not too far that would give nothing bigger than 100 (8 griven=1 US dollar). This makes life a lot easier, because so many places need close to exact change. An ATM a few weeks ago gave me 800 griven in all 20s, because it was out of big bills! It was great! So I try that ATM, but it won't take my card. I knew I had a 10ish minute walk to a different metro stop, so I figured I would find one on the way. The next ATM I tried told me it "Couldn't make the Transaction," and the third ATM was only in Ukrainian. I don't like agreeing to things I don't understand, so I kept going. Finally, right across from the metro was a line for a working ATM. I got my money and asked for a receipt. The machine then made me ask a second time as it told me "Consider Saving the Forest by Not Printing a Receipt!"

By now, I had long since walked past the Georgian place, and it wasn't worth the trip back. I was near a McDonald's (which I had eaten at for only the third time on Thursday), and a sandwich place I had tried only once before with a bad experience. But, armed with more Russian, I was ready to give it another try. I asked for a chicken sandwich, picked one of the two bread choices offered (having no idea what they were, just repeating one back), and watched as she began making my chicken sandwich.

She began by buttering the bread. Okay, I'm thinking, sure, butter on a sandwich can work. She layers on the chicken. A little processed, but very edible. Some other kind of meat. Must be more chicken? Cucumbers go on. Now we're talking. Common, and actually quite tasty on  sandwich. Cabbage. Not a big fan, but I can eat it. Unidentified, green slimy stuff. Uh-oh, here we go. More of it, slathered all over. Can't figure out how to tell her I don't want any more. Some funny black stuff. What is that? Mayonnaise-based sauce. Sometimes good, maybe there's enough to hide the other flavors.

I get it to go, pay and decide to take this sandwich outside and eat on a park bench. It was a really beautiful day. All of this took much longer than expected. I eat as much of the sandwich as I can so that it's not wasted, then buy orange juice and a Twix in the metro to get rid of the taste in my mouth. Next time, I'm just going to bring a list in Russian of exactly what I want on my sandwich.

The metro took me to some of the missionaries' home, where I was meeting Olivia to prepare for a Bible study I'm helping her lead tonight. I stayed for English Bible study, which was also at their place, and they even fed me dinner! It was wonderful, and I am so grateful. Cody, one of my teammates, led the Bible study in Mark and did an awesome job, then we ate sopapilla cheesecake. It was heavenly. An hour-long trip via the metro finished off my day, and I was home around 9:30pm for the first time since 8am. I love that tired feeling after a busy, but really great day. 

Every day in Ukraine comes with a new adventure, and I am so grateful to be a part of it.
-ej

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

::First Brownbag Letter::

"Why are trying so hard to fit in when you are born to stand out?" ::from the movie What a Girl Wants::

AIM in Lubbock has a tradition that every Wednesday at noon, the directors Kris and Pat read letters from AIMers who are on the field written to the new AIM class. It's a sack lunch day, so it is affectionately known as "brownbag." The new AIMers will write notes and encouragement and send it back to those spread out around the world. This week was the second brownbag for the 2011 AIM class, and I sent a letter. I actually wrote it last week, but it wasn't read until today. I thought I'd share it here as well.


Priv-yet! (That’s hello in Russian):
My name is ErinJoy, and yes, I go by both names together or even better just call me “EJ.” I am on the AIM team in Kharkov, Ukraine. The other day my teammate Jordan and I were coming home, and Jordan held the outer door open for a Ukrainian Babooshka (grandmother). She was asking something in Russian that took us a few tries to figure out, but she was asking if the door was open for her. We let her in, and Jordan told her we were studying Russian. As we walked into the stairwell, she said, “Yes, yes, I understand. You are the American girls living on the second floor, yes?” The most incredible part is that during this conversation, I had come to the realization that she was blind. I don’t remember ever seeing her before in our neighborhood, and yet this kind, old, blind Ukrainian lady knew exactly who we were.

The three of us girls (me, Jordan and Dawna) live in the most populated region of Kharkov. We live in a soviet-era 13-floor apartment building with 13 separate entrances, so you can begin to picture how big it is. And yet, as we befriend our numerous neighbors, it is clear that they all know exactly who we are. Our entire neighborhood talks about us. We are the “A-mer-i-kan-key”; the American girls who have come to live in Kharkov. We clearly stand out.

Being AIMers, believe me, we stand out, even in Lubbock. People don’t understand us. We become the “talk of the neighborhood.” We are doing something that is crazy in the world’s eyes. Paul gives this challenge: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2). Every day, we struggle against this world. We have to fight against the way the world wants us to be. We should stand out.

We have to be transformed, each and every single day into HIS image. As an AIMer, you already stand out as different. You have chosen a path that seems crazy. Always remember that the way we show Christ to the world is by how we live. It’s not the easy path. Some days I hate the fact that I will never truly “fit in” here in Ukraine. But I am not here to fit in. I am here to stand out and show Christ in my own life.

Don’t be discouraged when friends or family or even strangers don’t understand what you are doing. Continue to be transformed into the image of Christ. AIM is a great place for transformation. And when that stranger tells you, “I already know who you are…” my hope is that they don’t just see you, but they see Christ in you.

Still being transformed,
-ej

Monday, August 01, 2011

::Bethany's Sister::

"Both within the family and without, our sisters hold up our mirrors: our images of who we are and of who we can dare to be." ::Elizabeth Fishel::



Growing up, I hated it when people said me and my sister looked alike. I was the older sister. She was the little sister. Could people not see how different we are? Now, I love being known as Bethany's sister. I want people to say we are alike, because she is the most beautiful person I know. We are 2 and a half years apart in age, just enough to be really close but also fight a lot as kids. We became very close when I left for college as we still talked often. Then my sister came to Harding as a freshman when I was a senior, and I know I wouldn't have made it through that year without her. I loved being asked if I was Bethany's sister, as I proudly answered, "Yes, I am!"

I knew when I decided to do mission work, that the hardest person to leave would be my sister. She is still the person I miss the most. Every day. Every moment. But I also knew that of everyone I had to leave, she was the one I could count on to always be there. I trust her more than anyone else on this planet. And I knew that she would be the one who knew all of my dreams and would never let me NOT move to Ukraine. Those last days before I left when I started doubting what I was doing, even as I stood in LAX crying, she is the one who made sure I got on my plane.

My sister is one of the biggest reasons I am here in Ukraine right now. I would not be who I am today without her. She is stronger than me. She has an unshakable faith. Her faith could move mountains. Her character has been tried and tested as true. She loves sacrificially and unconditionally and shows that in her actions. I have been challenged time and time again just because of who she is in Christ.

Tomorrow my sister Bethany leaves for Ghana, West Africa. She is going on a two-week mission trip with World Bible School, led by our Uncle Joel and Aunt Pat Coppinger. It's her first time to leave the U.S. It is an incredible opportunity for her to use the many talents God has given her and let God's power work through her in a new place. I know what a blessing she will be to the people of Ghana, because I know what a blessing she has been to me.

I also know there may be hard times. Any foreign culture is difficult, but I know that she has a willing heart and open hands to serve. She will be challenged, and I believe she will rise to them with even greater grace. As long as her trust remains in God, she will do incredible things through Him. She has already changed me for good.

April 2011
My sister is my best friend.
my strength. my fellow dreamer. 
my encourager. my sister in Christ. 
my honey. my accomplice. 
my love. my confidante. 
my co-conspirator. my dear.
my safety net. my other half.
my support. my mentor. 
my heart. my person. 
my little sister.
my Bessie.

She is amazing. wonderful. incredible. fabulous. gorgeous.  smart. a great listener. the funniest person i know. wise.
beautiful inside and out. i love her with all my heart.

Please pray for my sister, as well as my aunt and uncle and the rest of their team as they travel to Ghana and minister there for 2 weeks. Pray that doors are opened for the Gospel to be heard and taken to heart, and that the team remains safe and healthy. And please pray for my parents as their two daughters will be away from them on two different continents.

I hope that if you have not yet met my sister, that you will one day. I am blessed beyond measure to know my amazing sister, and this is a feeble attempt to say just how proud I am to be
Bethany's sister.
-ej (aka Ery)

Summer 2009

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

::A Trip to the Mall::

"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered." ::G.K. Chesterton::

Here's a little video Jordan and I made on a recent trip to Karavan, the closest mall here in Kharkov. We go to the supermarket there fairly often, where we can find many familiar or similar things to what we have in the states. There's even a McDonald's.


-ej

Friday, July 22, 2011

::June 2011::

"‎Say to those who are fearful-hearted, 'Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.'" 
::Isaiah 35:4::

I realized yesterday that I have failed to post my most recent newsletters on my blog! I apologize for this and will strive to keep them posted from now on. So without any further delay I present my June 2011 Newsletter coming to you in your choice of high or low resolution.

Just follow the links:

If you'd like to receive the newsletter by email, please leave your email through Kontactr.

In the service of an AWESOME God.
-ej

Thursday, July 21, 2011

::The White House::

"Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." ::From the movie Casablanca::

The other day during Russian class we learned how to ask and answer the question "where?" We have learned how to say we live "in" a city, for example: Я живу в Харькове (I live in Kharkov), pronounced something like "Ya zhvoo vHarkovye." In previous classes we've discussed where we've been, what state certain cities are in, and which US cities have metros. We've talked about the capitals of countries, including of the US. 

So when our teacher asked in Russian something that sounded a lot like "Gdey (where) Casa Blanca?" I immediately answered, "In Washintgton," thinking that "Casa Blanca" meant "White House." Which it does; in Spanish! However, if you recall your geography (as I did not), Casablanca is also the largest city of Morocco! My teacher just looked at me and shook her said saying, "No, no, no." I also was very confused, because of course the White House is in Washington! It took me a few moments, but it finally dawned on me that I was trying to understand two different languages! My silly mind didn't even realize the difference.

Often when I am trying to speak in Russian, my mind finds Spanish words more easily than Russian, but that is changing the more I learn Russian. Spanish has given me a helpful framework to learn a new language. I seek to understand Russian grammar compared to Spanish, not English. And even though it can be difficult at times to not immediately go to Spanish in my mind (which is easier for me), it has been exponentially more helpful to have studied Spanish and some French first. I better understand how languages fit together, and for that I am grateful as I struggle through a much more difficult language to learn.

Russian is my focus right now, and I can see so many benefits of speaking to people in their own language. It is important to show people that we want to be here and that we care about them. We are not outsiders, but equals. It shows a respect for the culture and who they are. As I am able to put more and more sentences together, I look forward to when I can better communicate in conversation.

-ej

Sunday, July 17, 2011

::Caught in the Rain::

"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow." 
::G.K. Chesterton::

Today a group of us headed via metro from English worship assembly at one home to the Russian assembly across town, and when we surfaced, we were caught in a downpour! We called ahead and decided to wait out the rain, at least until it had lessened. We joined the crowd of Ukrainians around the metro exit, and I took a couple short videos of us for your enjoyment :).

Waiting in the Metro:


Walking in the Rain:


Thank you to each and every one of you who spend a few moments of your time on my little blog :). Feel free to say hello!

-ej

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

::Я говорю по-русски немного::

"A different language is a different vision of life." 
::Federico Fellini::

For the last month we have been in Russian classes almost 4 hours a day, 5 days a week. It's a very intensive way to learn Russian, and we still have homework every day. The five of us on my AIM team all are in class together at a university in the center of Kharkov. The university is Kharkov National Automobile and Highway University (ХНАДУ). Our teacher changes every 2 weeks because it is summer break, so we have just started with our 3rd teacher.

While it can be truly exhausting mentally, I have furthered realized how much I love languages. After studying Spanish and French, I can say Russian is much more difficult to learn. It has been a struggle to be patient, but a rewarding one. Looking back over this month, I am so much more willing and eager to start a conversation in Russian as limited as it may be. I am not afraid to walk into a store or up to a stand and ask for things in Russian. I have seen how much can be understood without knowing what was even said.

Our main focus for these 3 months is language, but I can already see what a blessing it will be. It means a lot to people when you try to speak their language, whether fellow Christians at our assembly or the girl at McDonald's yesterday who struggled not to laugh at my bad grammar but was as nice as could be. I have bought fruit, vegetables, even a backpack at a market, which is so much easier now that I understand numbers and can describe what I want.

I know I won't become fluent in Russian in just a year and a half. I may not ever understand everything in conversations. However, I want people to know at the end of these 18 months that I was willing to give it my all to communicate Jesus' love to them whether simply through actions, in my English or through a truly heartfelt attempt to communicate in their own language.

We ride the Metro every day to and from school,
and nearly everywhere else.

Most mornings we meet here with our coordinator.

The main entrance to our University. Our class meets in a building across an inner courtyard.

Ukrainian coat of arms, flag and national anthem on a poster.

Russian lesson

my desk during break

self-portrait of me surviving another day of Russian class :)

In His Service.
-ej

Sunday, June 12, 2011

::North Star::

“Dear God, You’re the only North Star I would follow this far...for He is the saving grace of the galaxies.” ::Owl City:: (from his new song "Galaxies")

I have been in Ukraine over a week! It’s been an amazing journey already, and I’m so excited about what God is doing here. The missionaries have been so incredibly welcoming and eager to help and show us around. I am so blessed to work with and learn from a mission team who has God in the center of everything they do.

Our coordinator Dougle and his wife Lucy are amazing and prepared all we could need during this first week. I am so thankful that I didn’t have to immediately worry about switching terminals to fly from Kiev to Kharkov, finding an apartment, furnishing and supplying our apartment, navigating our way around town, keeping busy through jet-lag or finding food. They had thought and planned for all of this, and it took so much of our concern and worry away.

Here’s a few of our adventures & what I have learned in one week in Kharkov:
> 8 Hryvnia = 1 Dollar
> We buy our water from a water truck that comes by every day in front of our apartments.
> Our apartment key looks like it could open the wardrobe door to Narnia.
> There’s an ice-skating rink in both malls here, which are a 20 minute walk from my apartment.
> Apartment complexes typically have a very colorful and fun-looking playground.
> The bus routes are much more difficult to figure out than the metro lines. We rode a bus out for over 30 minutes before figuring out where we were and how to get back.
> Always take your shoes off at the door of someone's home.
> My macbook recognizes that I'm in Ukraine and now many websites have automatically changed from English to Ukrainian.
> 30 degrees is actually quite hot if it’s in Celsius, and you don’t have air conditioning.
> No more than 3 adults in some elevators, or you’ll wind up spending some extra time waiting for rescue. This is what happened to our guy teammates Cody and Caleb, one of the missionaries, and a neighbor who all got into an elevator together our first morning in Kharkov.
> Gathering as the Lord’s church is just as encouraging in Russian as it is in English.
> Washing machines typically can’t fit more than 2 pairs of jeans and a few shirts, and there are no dryers.
> Strawberries, “kloobnika” in Russian, are in season right now.
> I can now find my way to all of the missionaries’ 4 apartments, via metro, tram, bus or walking.
> Handing flyers out at metro stops can lead to some fun adventures.

We start Russian classes on Monday!

From UKRAINE,
-ej :)

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

::A Dragon Named Okmulgee::

"We live, in fact, in a world starved for solitude, silence, and private: and therefore starved for meditation and true friendship." ::C.S. Lewis::

There once was a dragon named Okmulgee, who was allergic to ducks. One day he crashed into a duck pond and soon fell in love with a duck. He heard of a wizard who may have the cure and gathered his friends (including a unicorn, griffin and giant) to begin a quest which would lead them on a journey far from home...and so begins an epic road trip story four of us created together as we traveled around Texas and Oklahoma. It may sound a little ridiculous to you reading this, but inventing this story is one of my absolute favorite memories of my time in AIM.

One of my teammates decided that it must be a metaphor, and while I think that is a bit of a stretch, there are certain elements that ring true for me. For one, I am about to begin on my own journey, an adventure of a different kind. I'm taking some friends with me, but I have to leave others behind to wait for me as they are on different journeys. The four of us who created the story of Okmulgee never got the chance to finish it. We are still right in the middle of the story, and none of us know what will happen to Okmulgee or how it will end. And I think maybe that's how it should be. At least for now. Much more like real life.

And so in March to the beginning of April, we spent three weeks traveling around Texas and Oklahoma before splitting off into our AIM challenge weeks. It was our last trip as a class and wound up being my favorite trip of them all because of the friendships that were deepened. We handed out flyers in Arlington, sat in on challenging lessons at the Tulsa workshop and gave our last flag presentation in Yukon, Oklahoma. We also helped to begin an extreme home makeover project in Childress, Texas which is worth its own blog post!

My team worked with the Greenville Oaks congregation in Allen, Texas for a week which was encouraging and challenging. After we returned to Lubbock, our last week was filled with goodbyes and fun memories. I have been blessed with so many wonderful friends. God gives us people in our lives to challenge us and help us to grow closer to Him, and I am so grateful.

Here are a few pictures from the last month:

SINKING BOAT ON A LAKE IN CHILDRESS
OUR "TEAM UKRAINE" CHALK SQUARE AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING MEMORIAL
A NON-DRIVE-THRU SONIC IN OKC
OUR ASSISTANT JANE AS ME IN A SKIT OF OUR TEAM
Exactly one week ago was the official end to our time in Lubbock for training and classes. It's been an incredible journey since August. Part of me wishes I could stay longer in Lubbock, but I know it's time to get ready for my next adventure! Which brings me now to Searcy, home of my alma mater. I'm here to visit and say goodbye to more friends who I'm not sure when I'll see again. It could be a sad time, but in true Okmulgee fashion, I'm going to keep looking ahead toward my own quest. I am so thankful for friendships that last distance and time. Goodbyes are simply a part of the journey, but when God is leading your way, the adventure is always worth it.

ME WITH FRIENDS AT HARDING, ONE WEEK AGO
Living each day for Him,
-ej

Sunday, April 17, 2011

::Mexico, Part 3::

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." ::Colossians 3:15::

One of our last days in Mexico City, we headed down to Cuernavaca to work with the church there. We split up into smaller groups, and my group headed to an orphanage. This isn't the usual kind of orphanage, because most of these kids still have parents who are unable to take care of them.

"RIVER OF LIFE," INSIDE THE CHURCH BUILDING
ROMANS 10:9
JORDAN AND ME, WAITING FOR THE KIDS
A LITTLE KICKBALL
SOME SINGING IN SPANISH--AND ENGLISH
SPINNING ROUND AND ROUND
SHARING THE LOVE OF CHRIST
LUIS, A LITTLE BOY WHO WASN'T FEELING WELL
FACES OF MEXICO:

SAYING GOODBYE
Our last day in Mexico we went to a market and ate nearby in Mexico City, then made our final stop at the Teotihuacan pyramids. This is a site with archeological and cultural significance. Many different ethnic groups lived at these pyramids, and it was a worship site with human sacrifice. There is a pyramid dedicated to the Sun and another to Moon, connected by the Avenue of the Dead. Now thousands of years later, it's a tourist site.

KATELYNN AND ME ON THE PYRAMID OF THE SUN WITH A VIEW TO THE PYRAMID OF THE MOON
ALEJANDRO, OUR AMAZING GUIDE!
UKRAINE TEAM AND TRAVEL GROUP IN MEXICO CITY
Following where He leads,
-ej

Saturday, April 16, 2011

::Mexico City, Part 2::

"Let my lips utter praise, For You teach me Your statutes. Let my tongue sing of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness." ::Psalm 119:171-172::

While in Mexico City, we were able to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It's an important pilgrimage site in the Catholic church. There are numerous churches built around this area and the biggest basilica houses the icon of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

DURING A SERVICE BY THE PRIEST; THE LADY OF GUADALUPE IS FRONT AND CENTER
VIEW OF THE ICON WITH VIRGIN GUADALUPE FROM UNDERNEATH
IT READS, "QUEEN OF MEXICO. REMEMBER OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE."
OVERLOOKING THE OLD AND NEW BASILICAS
STATUE OF THE VIRGIN OF GUADALUPE
OLD AND NEW
We were also able to visit the historic main square in Mexico City, known as the Zocalo Capitalino. This is where the Presidente of Mexico gives speeches.

STANDING IN FRONT OF THE PALACIO NACIONAL (NATIONAL PALACE), WHERE THE PRESIDENT WORKS
Mexico City was built upon a lake and parts of it have been sinking, as evidenced by the Metropolitan Cathedral. There has been a lot of work done to build up the foundation of this cathedral from damaged caused by sinking.

CATEDRAL METROPOLITANA
TOYS AMONGST SHRINES
A SHRINE TO A SAINT THANKING FOR GOOD GRADES
ALL THAT GLITTERS REALLY IS GOLD
When the Aztecs founded their city of Tenochtitlan, they built it on an island in the middle of a lake that seasonally. After Spanish colonization, they began to build drainage canals, but despite the efforts in 1629 the city was buried under water for 5 years. The problem continues to this day.

Many buildings show evidence of the sinking, including this yellow building down the street from the main square. Follow the main horizontal lines, and you can clearly see that the building is not level.

SINKING IN THE MUD
We were able to go up into the Torre Latinoamericana (the Latin American Tower). From here it's possible to see the sheer size of the city.

PALACIO DE BELLAS ARTES (PALACE OF FINE ARTS)
COUNTLESS BUILDINGS AND SOULS IN IN EVERY DIRECTION
ME, 45 FLOORS INTO THE SKY
All for His Glory,
-ej